High Court judge Zaini Mazlan directed both parties to make submissions on this tomorrow.

At the outset of today’s hearing, Sri Ram informed the judge that he had instructions from the public prosecutor to personally argue the disqualification matter.

Lawyer Reza Abdul Rahim, a member of Rosmah’s legal team, said he was surprised by the turn of events as they had not been informed earlier that Sri Ram would argue the matter.

“They have made a U-turn and this is against Rule 5 of the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules,” he said.

That provision states that no lawyer is to accept a brief if it is difficult to maintain professional independence.

Reza then sought an adjournment for them to prepare submissions as to why Sri Ram could not participate in that case as he was the subject matter of the disqualification.

He said defence lawyers appearing for another case involving Rosmah – in the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar hybrid energy project – had not objected to Sri Ram arguing the matter when a similar application was made in that case.

“The lawyers in that case made a concession but we are not doing that,” Reza added.

Zaini, who is also the trial judge in that case, had ruled that Sri Ram could lead the prosecution team.

In reply to Reza’s argument, Sri Ram told the court the public prosecutor, who is also the attorney-general, was more comfortable with him arguing the matter.

“I also don’t understand why the lawyer is stating we have broken traffic rules by making a U-turn,” he quipped.

At the last proceeding, it was agreed that deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib would make the oral submission as to why Sri Ram should not be disqualified.

Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.

She is accused of committing the offences between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017.